Who We Are

Are you interested in living in a healthy community or ensuring there is support for seniors including housing? Join in the efforts by supporting SSHSS and their many activities.

At the last AGM, the Society changed the focus of the society’s constitution to reflect the scope of the work they are doing. The purposes of the society are to promote sustainable health services for the population of the South Shuswap, and efforts to support and promote healthy communities.

SSHSS and Sorrento and Area Community Health Centre Society are supporting the Seniors Housing Team for the Rural Shuswap Health Services network and are working with the communities in Area C as a pilot project, to provide knowledge on seniors housing to the members of rural Shuswap.

The Rural Shuswap Health Services Network, formed as a grass roots movement through the Together Shuswap initiative, lead by SSHSS is an example of the strength of a collaborative effort. The rural Shuswap communities of Sicamous, North Shuswap, South Shuswap, Falkland and Westwold are collaborating to open the dialogue with the stakeholders who provide health care services to our communities. We held very successful meetings with IHA, Greg Kyllo, MLA, and those in the Ministry of Health, Health Match BC and physician recruitment. This is the beginning of the continued conversation required to ensure a long term partnership is formed to support the needs of the communities.

Provincially, the ministry of health is promoting many initiatives to encourage healthy communities, age friendly communities, opportunities to age in place, all in an effort to reduce the cost of health care.

SSHSS is a member of the Shuswap Healthy Communities Coalition, formed to promote and ensure opportunities to promote and support access healthy living choices. For more information visit: www.bchealthycommunities.ca. SHCC is part of a team that received $20,000.00 in Plan H Funding to promote and assist grass roots movements in food safety, transportation and options for healthy living in the Shuswap and surrounding areas.

Better at Home is a province-wide program funded by the Government of BC and managed by the United Way of the Lower Mainland to help seniors remain independent at home and stay connected with their community. SHSS led the charge for Area C in January 2014 and quickly identified the need for Seniors Resource Centre.

Copper Island Health & Wellness Centre provides a variety of support services for seniors, some of which are seniors lunches, foot care, computer training, and resource information. Do you need help? Call CIHWC 250-675-3661 and they will assist you in any way they can. “Seniors helping Seniors”

Seniors in the South Shuswap area are able to access free one-on-one computer support. The Literacy Alliance of the Shuswap Society (LASS), in partnership with the South Shuswap Health Services Society (SSHSS) and its affiliated committee, Copper Island Seniors (CISR), will be offering free computer tutoring sessions and monthly technology workshops for seniors. Call 250-675-3661 for updates.

We are pleased to work with Age-Friendly BC, and are thankful for the support of CSRD and our journey to being an Age Friendly community. In 2018 our focus was on “Nutrition for Seniors”, we have formed a committee to ensure we have continuity in coming years. “In an age-friendly British Columbia, older people are supported to live active, socially engaged, independent lives. Our vision is of a province where people of all ages and abilities feel included and valued in their communities.”

We welcome all those interested in building a healthier community and supporting sustainable health services to join our team through becoming members of the society ($20.00 on Line), volunteering or leading an initiative. Thank you to our many volunteers who have contributed to our success. It takes many hands to build a community.

Join us and learn about the many opportunities to create every opportunity to promote and support a healthy community. Call 250-832-5932, 250-804-3637 for further information.